Ohio lawmakers pass state budget bill including school funding reform, tax cuts

COLUMBUS, Ohio – On Monday evening, Ohio House legislators passed Bill 110, the biennial state budget for fiscal years 2022 and 2023, which includes a new reform plan for school funding, tax cuts, jobs and economic support.

Education and childcare
House Bill 110 contains several educational and childcare factors that are included in the legislation.

The school funding reform plan included in the bill has been in the works for more than three years and would put the Fair School Funding Plan in place, which aims to more accurately measure school district funding based on property and income wealth to determine the local share.

RELATED: Cleveland Heights Mom Hopes Proposed State School Funding Plan Will Help Ohio High School Students

In addition, according to the law, the school districts would be removed from the control of the academic emergency commissions.

In the case of childcare, the law increases publicly financed childcare with an initial claim of 142% of the federal poverty line for all families and 150% for families with children with disabilities.

Ohio’s Help Me Grow parent support program is being expanded to include children up to five years of age under the law.

health
The state budget includes several medical implications under the legislation.

Under HB 110, Medicaid coverage for women would be extended by one year after childbirth. The coverage is currently 60 days.

The bill would also designate May as the month of maternal mortality awareness.

One of the points in the bill that has received backlash from some of Ohio’s lawmakers is language that would allow doctors to refuse treatment to LGBTQ + patients if doing so goes against that doctor’s religious beliefs.

Jobs and economic support
HB 110 encompasses targeted investments in Ohio state jobs, businesses, and economy, including expanding public procurement law to prioritize American and Ohio products. It also focuses on human resource development across the country.

Changes have been made to the bill that removes the controversial Senate proposal of asset testing requirements for food snap recipients.

RELATED: Opponents Warn Proposed SNAP Changes Would “Devastate” Low-income Ohioans

In addition, the Senate regulations requiring the Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services to end federal pandemic unemployment assistance programs by September 4 and prohibiting ODJFS from entering into new agreements with the Department of Labor for future assistance programs were also passed deleted from the legislation.

Infrastructure and internet
As part of HB 110, $ 350 million would be allocated to a newly developed Brownfield Redevelopment Fund and $ 150 million to the Building Demolition and Site Revitalization Fund.

HB 110 is also providing $ 230 million in 2022 and $ 20 million in 2023 for broadband funding, while lifting restrictions on local government agencies as a broadband provider.

Prosecution
The bill contains several provisions that would benefit law enforcement agencies, firefighters and public safety officers.

Initiatives in HB 110 include safety grants, school safety grants, body cameras, investments in law enforcement training, grants for firefighters, and funding for the Ohio Cyber ​​Reserve.

Tax cuts
A tax reform contained in HB 110 provides for a flat income tax of 3% and reduces the number of tax brackets from five to four. It also eliminates income tax for anyone making less than $ 25,000 a year.

However, some Democratic lawmakers said the bill “includes a regressive tax cut and allows Republican lawmakers to use taxpayers’ money to redistribute lawsuits.”

National holiday
HB 110 also added the Juniteenth as a paid state holiday. President Joe Biden recently declared the day a federal holiday.

“The commemoration of June 15 as a public holiday will help us honor the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States. It will recognize the sacrifices and struggles and celebrate the tenacity and triumphs of black Americans, ”said Senator Hearcel F. Craig (D-Columbus). “As we celebrate this historic event for the years to come, I urge all Ohioans to be aware of the systemic racism that still affects our society and to continue to stand up and speak out against injustice. Although we have come a long way since 1865, we still have a long way to go to achieve equality for all. “

House Bill 110 now goes to Governor Mike DeWine’s desk to get his signature.

To read the full invoice, click here.

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